Duke, former lacrosse players settle suit

Feb. 28, 2013
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Rape allegations leveled against members of the Duke lacrosse team in 2006, which led to the rest of the Blue Devils' season being canceled, were later declared to be false by the state attorney general. / Jack Gruber, USA TODAY Sports

by USA TODAY

by USA TODAY

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) - Duke University has settled a lawsuit by 38 members of its 2005-06 men's lacrosse team.

The Herald-Sun of Durham reported that attorneys for the school and players notified a federal judge Wednesday that the lawsuit was settled out of court.

Duke spokesman Michael Schoenfeld and one of the players' lawyers, Bill Thomas, confirmed the settlement. Neither would talk about the terms.

The players sued amid the controversy that followed allegations by a stripper that she was raped at a team party in 2006. Officials, including the state attorney general, later declared the allegations were false.

Duke reached a settlement in 2007 with three players, David Evans, Colin Finnerty and Reade Seligmann, who were indicted and then cleared on rape charges.

Those three players and other team members also have sued the city of Durham over the way the police department handled the case. Those cases are pending.